Month: November 2017

Big bench production helps KCKCC women stay undefeated

KCKCC freshman forward Nija Collier goes high to block a shot by Saint Mary’s Jaleia Rice while teammates Miya Ford (3) and Tyrionne Martin look on. Collier had 10 points and 14 rebounds in KCKCC’s 87-52 win. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball coach Joe McKinstry has a problem – how to put the best combo on the floor at the same time.

In an 87-52 win over Saint Mary junior varsity Monday night, McKinstry got 39 points from his starters and 48 from his young but deep bench.

“It’s not a bad problem to have,” McKinstry said.

Unbeaten in three games, the Lady Blue Devils have three more games this week. At Ottawa University JV Wednesday night, the Blue Devils are hosts to the annual Keith Lindsey Classic this weekend, and they will be hosts of William Penn’s junior varsity Friday at 6 p.m. and then long-time archrival Penn Valley Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Blue Devils got big performances from 6-1 Lillie Moore of Magnolia, Ark., and 6-0 Nija Collier of Detroit in the win over Saint Mary.

Moore was 8-of-9 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds while Collier had a double double with 10 points and a game high 14 rebounds

“Lillie had a better night tonight finishing around the basket,” McKinstry said. “She’s capable of these stats every game if she continues to work hard without the ball. And Nina Collier’s stats are a direct reflection of her effort. When we get her to understand the game and get her into the flow of things, she’s going to be hard to handle.”

Caroline Hoppock and Gena Ojeda added nine points each, Allly Lollis eight, Miya Ford seven and Kisi Young six and seven rebounds. Tyrionne Martin directed the offense with seven assists and eight points.

Shooting 61.9 percent the first quarter, KCKCC built a 28-5 lead but things went downhill the rest of the way. Leading 49-15 at the half, KCKCC had only a 38-37 scoring edge in the second half as the Blue Devils were just 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) from 3-point and 43.6 percent overall.

“I think we showed our youth and inexperience tonight,” McKinstry said. “Of course I’m happy we won but we have to do a better job of executing on both ends of the floor regardless of what the scoreboard says. I felt like our defense and defensive rebounding effort really fell off after halftime.”

KCKCC had a 58-42 advantage on the boards but it was only 30-27 in the second half.

Cool, cloudy weather persists in today’s forecast

National Weather Service graphic

The Election Day forecast today is mostly cloudy with a high near 44, according to the National Weather Service.

A north northeast wind of 7 to 9 mph is in the forecast.

Temperatures will be about 10 to 15 degrees below normal today and Wednesday, the weather service said, with cooler temperatures lasting through Saturday.

Conditions should remain mostly dry throughout the week, except some patchy drizzle south of I-70 this morning, according to the weather service.

The next chance for any significant precipitation will be Saturday, when there is a chance of rain across the area, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 28, and a north northeast wind of 3 to 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, expect sunny skies and a high of 48, with a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 32 and a light and variable wind, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny with a high of 48 with a light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Thursday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 27, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 50, the weather service said.

Friday night, there will be a 30 percent chance of rain after midnight, with a low of 41, according to the weather service.

Saturday, Veterans Day, expect a 50 percent chance of rain with a high near 54, the weather service said.

Saturday night, there will be a 30 percent chance of rain before midnight, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Sunday night, the low will be around 38 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny with a high near 58, the weather service said.

Officer-involved shooting reported in 1300 block of Haskell

An officer-involved shooting was reported about 7:45 p.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Haskell Avenue, according to a police spokesman.

Persons were taken to a hospital with injuries after the officer-involved shooting Nov. 6 in the 1300 block of Haskell, according to a news release from the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A police spokesman on Tuesday morning stated he couldn’t confirm how many persons were taken to the hospital. No officers were injured, according to the news release.

The news release stated that a police investigation led to a traffic stop that then became an officer-involved shooting.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Major Case Unit is investigating and is asking anyone with information on this case to call 913-573-6020 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.